Lurkers Are The Worst

[tiger_ken]

[1]

...

[There's been a lot of new arrivals to the Unity Group as of late, so one imagines it mustn't be so surprising to see a new face that one doesn't recognise. But this one doesn't seem all that much older than a highschool student - heck, he might even be - and unlike some of the younger associates of the organisation, he hasn't exactly ditched his uniform either.

And thus, there he stands in the corridors of the Sakihama Base, hidden beneath the Earth, as he seems to be taking less than conventional means of getting a snack from a vending machine. Well, one assumes shoving your hand right in there is unconventional.]

[2]

[This time he's managed to hop along through the TSEN all the way to Fort Alhambra, and already is trying to make himself familiar with all its nooks and crannies.

Starting with its air ducts.]

Ngh... These could use some replacements...

[Grumbling to himself, the lad nevertheless soldiers on in his strange quest, and yet...]

Cher-THUNK

[All this gets him is the metal buckling under him, and he falls out into god knows where. Or onto god knows who.]

Comments

2

[way_of_vengeance]

[And where should he fall in front of but a graceful, pink-haired woman-and a much older lady.]

Oh? It seems we have an infestation in the vents, Sayo.


So it seems, Mistress. Do you think we should call an exterminator?


[She levels a rifle at Ken's head.]
No, I think I'll handle it myself. No need to bother everyone about a single rat.

Re: 2

[tiger_ken]

W-What rat exactly looks and talks like a human being, eh?

[He says, seeming a bit small as he tries to sit himself upright.]

1

[star_of_sad]

Umm.

[Hey, it's a stranger and... not an intruder, actually. But he still acts suspicious.]

Hello?

Re: 1

[tiger_ken]

One second. Trying to get myself some food.

[Now he seems to be... trying to tip the machine slightly? As if that'll actually help.]

[star_of_sad]

You're supposed to put money in first.

[tiger_ken]

Well obviously. But I don't have any, so I gotta get it like this.

[And by 'this', he means slowly clutching at the end of a packet at the bottom.]

Re: 2

[way_of_vengeance]

Oh, it'd have to be a very clever rat to do that.

[She does keep the gun trained on his face as Ken stands up.]

So, Mr. Rat...Do you have a reason to be crawling around in our vents? Did you just want a bit of moldy cheese? Or was it something else?

Re: 2

[tiger_ken]

Who doesn't make themselves familiar with the ins and outs of a new place?

Re: 2

[way_of_vengeance]

...Most would not do so by crawling around in vents like vermin.

And your uniform...this is hardly the place for a child, Mr. Rat.

Re: 2

[tiger_ken]

Oh, that's surprising. Because it doesn't seem like the place for a maid, or the others I've seen running about.

The name's Ken, incidentally.

[star_of_sad]

You don't have money? But... you do get paid by the Unity Group, don't you?

Here.

[Setsuko puts a coin in. The packet is now free from the machine's clutches!]

[tiger_ken]

Not at all.

[The lad gives a small, thankful boy as he picks up the packet. There's an eager smile, like that of a boy who never sees this sort of thing regularly. He opens it up, and plops several chocolate balls into his mouth, before extending them in offering.]

[star_of_sad]

No? You are hired by the group, aren't you?

[Otherwise it'd be weird for him to be there... either way, Setsuko's attention focuses on the sweets.]

For me?

[tiger_ken]

Well, you're not blind, are you?

[Again, he gestures for her to take some.]

Besides, they're technically yours, given you paid for them.

[2]

[fire_dancer]

Raquel was in her quarters just getting settled in she's just stepped out of the shower a moment ago and was in the process of changing. That's when the vent started to give way above her. She'd just pulled on her undergarments and was going to dry off her green hair when some of the ceiling gives out with a tortured screen and even with her own reflexes she doesn't have much if any time to respond as the falling form of Kentaro would land right on her sending Raquel sprawling to the ground.

She lets out a cry from the force of the impact but is dazed, one could swear she's got swirly eyes right now from how dazed she is. Kentaro would find himself having landed with little harm thanks to Raquel whom he's now on top of.

"ugg....."

Raquel's still not quite aware of what happened but there's something heavy on her she knows that much as her thoughts start to get back in order.

[star_of_sad]

That's one way to look at it.

[Grab chocolate ball, pop in mouth.

Blissful smile get.]

[tiger_ken]

Well, that's enough of that then.

[The young man turns on his feet, briefly looking up.]

I'm gonna scope out the rest of this base.

Re: [2]

[tiger_ken]

Ngh... What'd I fall on...?

[Ken's a little surprised. He could've sworn that, even from that height, his fall should have hurt a great deal more than it did. Instead it was... kinda soft. And he was pretty sure he could some kind of fa-]



...

[Speechless. Absolutely. Out of shock, fear, and... slight amazeme-
No, no, no! This is bad! Both for falling on her but because of this position...]

Towel... Towel... Towel...

[Frantically, he turns his head about, trying to find... aha! The boy reaches for the towel, trying to throw it unto the knocked over maiden, before he backs up against a nearby wall, stiff as a board.]

Still pointing a gun at him, BTW

[way_of_vengeance]

Ah, but Sayo's a part of the official GHQ detachment for this project. Whereas you are, how to put it...

Extraordinarily suspicious?

I was going to go with "trespassing", but that works as well.

Re: Still pointing a gun at him, BTW

[tiger_ken]

[The boy's potential concerns over the gun seem to filter through in small glances at the barrel, making sure its still there and, well, not blowing his face off.]

Whoever said I was trespassing? Or did you personally greet every new arrival on the way in?

[way_of_vengeance]

...I would still like to see an ID. If you don't mind indulging me, of course.

[tiger_ken]

...One second.

[Ken rather vigorously pats down his person, and produces... uh... a near empty pack of chocolate balls.]

...Wait...

[Patpatpatpatpat... Aha!]

This do?

[...Well, its not strictly with the Unity Group, but one of its various support groups, yes. Freshly printed in fact, can't imagine he signed up that long ago.]

Re: [2]

[fire_dancer]

Ken has got a bit of an look to put it mildly. As Raquel starts to get up she hears someone talking. Then he feels a towel on her and she now pushes up off the floor.

"What just..."

She takes the towel and is about to set it own, before it dawns on her there's a man here in the room /with her/. With almost blurring motion the towel is about her and she's shooting Ken a hell of a look as she stalks up to him.

"What in the name of God are you doing in here?! Were you spying on me showering like some kind of pervert?!"

Re: [2]

[tiger_ken]

Nononono! Not at all! I just fell out of the ceiling!

[...]

...Wait! I wasn't there to peep! I mean, its the worst position, getting past the door wouldn't have been hard, and-

And...

Sorry!

[Realising he's dug his hole somewhat deeper, he makes a hasty bow.]

Re: [2]

[fire_dancer]

"...the only reason you'd be in there was if you were trying to spy on me. I'm sorry but either get a pin up of me or how about buying me dinner and a movie first! Wait what am I saying..."

She stalks up to Ken a bit more but now he's bowing.

"Do you think you can buy me off that easily!"

Her stance shifts a bit like she's almost expecting a possible fight. After all unknown person in the vents on a base? That's certainly cause for concern at best. Alarm at worst!